Inverness CT 2-0 Hibernian

Published on Saturday 21 February 2009 16:24

Hibs miserable run in Inverness continued as the Ednburgh club made it seven visits to the Capital of the Highlands without a win, goals from David Proctor and Richie Foran consigning Mixu Paatelainen's team to yet another defeat.

In six previous trips north Hibs had managed but a solitary goal but what those die-hard fans who made the long journey today would have given even to see a single shot on Ryan Esson's goal, the Caley goalkeeper a virtual spectator as Paatelainen's players turned in a feckless 90 minutes totally lalcking in any quality whatsoever.

Caley, seemingly destined for relegation only a few weeks ago, fully merited their win as they continued their remarkable renaissance under new boss Terry Butcher, this victory following draws with Celtic and Dundee United which sandwiched a Homecoming Scottish Cup triuimph over Kilmarnock.

If all the talk before the game had been as to which of the three players released by Hibs boss Mixu Paatelainen over the course of this season who had washed up on the shores of the Moray Firth, namely Brian Kerr, Filipe Morais and Thierry Gatheussi, might come back to haunt the Finn, the name of Proctor, a one-time teenage hopeful at Easter Road, escaped all attention.

But it was the Caley midfielder, with his first goal of the season, who opened the scoring after 14 minutes, exchanging passes with team-mate Doug Imrie before finding the time and space to guide a low shot into the net from 16 yards.

While second-best for most of the first half, Hibs did have a glorious chance to equalise seven minutes later when Ross Chisholm set Jonatan Johansson racing free but, with only goalkeeper Ryan Esson to beat, the Finnish international drove a low shot inches wide of the target.

It was to be the best opportunity created by Hibs in the opening hour as Paatelainen's side turned in a woeful performance, Caley taking full advantage of their visitors' hesitancy and apparent lack of confidence as the unmarked Foran pounced on a loose ball to rattle home Caley's second with 64 minutes on the clock.

The sorry statistic for Hibs as he did so was that they had failed to get even one shot on target, a fact which remained unaltered as the final whistle sounded.

Inverness Caledonian Thistle: Esson, Tokely, Djebi-Zadi, Proctor, McBain, Imrie (Morais 89), Munro, Mihadjuks, Foran, Odhiambo (Rooney 79), Kerr. Subs not used: Fraser, Hastings, Wood, Duff, Vigurs.

Hibs: Szamotulski, McCormack (Nish 71), Hogg, Jones, Stevenson, Rosa (O'Brien 66), Bamba, Chisholm (Keenan 46), Fletcher, Riordan, Johansson. Subs not used Ma-Kalambay, van Zanten, Thicot, Rankin,